Italian Wine Exports Hit by New US 10% Tariff, Losses Reach €360 Million

The United States has enacted a flat 10% tariff on European Union wine under Section 301 of the Trade Act, prompting concerns in the Italian wine sector. President of Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) Lamberto Frescobaldi said the new duty is a modest improvement over previous rates but warned that a parallel investigation into alleged over‑capacity production could trigger additional tariffs. He expressed hope the outcome will stay below the 15% ceiling set in the US‑EU agreement.

According to UIV data, Italian wine shipped to the United States lost €360 million in value over the past 14 months – a 16% decline from the period before the so‑called “Liberation Day” of April 2025. Shipments at the end of 2024 approached €2 billion, but fell to €1.76 billion in 2025, with the first five months of 2026 marking the worst performance since 2017. Red wines fell 18% in value, whites 17%, and sparkling wines 11%. Lower‑priced wines (≤ €6 per bottle), which account for over 80% of exports to the U.S., are the most vulnerable.